C120.1862.04.

Camp in the Field near Lees Mills VAi April 10th /62

Friend Eliza I received your letter when at Clouds Millsii near Alexander iii[sic] which was not very [sic] unexpected or un- welcom [sic] as letters is about all the reading matter we have now. if you could see me writing this I am shure [sic] you would laugh. percht [sic]up on a stump in a swamp it is not the dismal swampiv but it is dismal enough. God knows. we marcht [sic] from Camp griffinv on the 10th of Mar. on the 23rd arived [sic] at Fortress Monroevi and got a good bed in the sand for the night. we encamp [sic] near. Newport News. untill the 26th when we started for the rebel Camp at Youngs Millsvii Hancox viiiBrigade in front untill they met the enemy when they came to

a stand. when our brigade came up their [sic] was considerable confu- sion occasioned by his skermishers been driven in by the enemy. General Brooksix amedately [sic] orderd [sic] Cos. J. H,. and. B of the 2nd in front of Hancox brigade and the rest of the regt in front of his and we cleard the woods damb [sic] quick. on the 4th we started again for the Mills which turndout [sic] to be a fort. Co.B. in front driving in the pickets which was Cavelry[sic] into the fort when we halted for the rest of the brigade to come up the line formed Co.B. in front of the 5th we advanced and drove the Cavelry from the fort and captured it. one of the 5th was shot. we advanced to Lees Mills which turns out to be a succession of forts and I think a good many will bite the dust before it is taken

we have been now 3 days on picket within 300 yards of the enemys pickets fireing is kept up continualy between the pickets we have lost 50 kild and woun-ded up to now. but we have the best guns and can see the rebels carrying the dead out of the trenches every day. Billey is in the hospital with a sore foot I saw. Joe yesterday and he sends his respects I also saw Bill Hale. tell Mr. Quilty I will make that. V. all right when we get paid. give my love to all and accept yours in hast[e]

Hammond

PS direct to Washington D.C.

i http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_lees_mills.html

ii Clouds Mills and environs are depicted on the map linked here: https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3883f.cw0536500/ https://www.loc.gov/item/99446520/ iii Probably means “Alexandria” iv http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/dismal-swamp-company/ v http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/6/campgriffin.php vi http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/fort_monroe_during_the_civil_war vii http://www.civilwar.org/civil-war-discovery-trail/sites/young-s-mill.html

viii Winfield Scott Hancock? ix William T.H. Brooks? —————